1-29, Sly Fox

I think I have an idea for a new direction for this blog.  My followers know that I have struggled with balancing the content of this blog with the photos from my personal, family blog.  Usually, some of the photos overlap and I don't want it to be redundant for my viewers.  When I created this blog, it was an outlet to help me find my way on my photographic journey.  I am currently taking an advanced portraiture course from the New York Institute of Photography.  The idea came to me today:  use my Finding Focus blog as a way to share tips and knowledge about photography.  So, today marks the first day of posting with this in mind.  You never know when I will again alter course, so take it for what it's worth for the time-being!

Yesterday, I observed this fox that resides in our neighborhood.  I missed the unique opportunity to get photos of the fox and a cat having a stand-off, but I did capture this series instead (thankfully after the cat made an escape and went into hiding).  I have two bits of info to share with this post:  1) a series of photos can be much more informative and interesting to viewers, 2) continuous shooting can yield desirable images more frequently than a single image.  

Let's consider the first point of creating a photo series.  If I had only captured the first or last image, they would be pretty ordinary photos of a fox.  However, as you watch the momentary transition of one image to the next, you can see the 'story' unfold from beginning to end.  Now, the viewer gets a better idea of the storyline:  being sly is pretty exhausting work!  Had I only had a single image to work with, #5 would have been the best choice.  But, isn't it pretty neat to see the whole series as it unfolds?  This concept can be applied to many ideas and events.  How many times have you heard, "Oh, you just had to be there to see it"?  Well, now, don't you feel like you were almost there with me witnessing such a neat, wildlife experience?  I know I'd never seen a fox yawn before!

My second point has a technical basis.  I shot this photo from my front deck looking all the way across my yard and up the opposite hill of my neighbor's driveway.  I didn't have time to get my tripod (I'd already missed the end of the cat encounter, after all, just getting my camera out).  I quickly attached my longest lens, a 70-200 mm telephoto, and set it to 200mm.  Even with this size lens, the fox was incredibly small in the viewfinder.  (I cropped these images in Photoshop after the fact, a digital zoom, if you will.)  When shooting with such a long lens, you have to be very still and use a shutter speed fast enough to negate any handheld motion.  By shooting in a continuous mode with my finger on the shutter, I was able to freeze this momentary action into a series of photos.  Likewise, if you're shooting a stationery object, the outcome is higher for a better image if you rapid-fire.  In a portrait, a subtle change in facial expression can mean the difference between a good photo and a great photo.  Lastly, when you hand-hold the camera, odds are that some of the images my be blurry but by having a continuous blast you'll hopefully be able to find one that is sharp.  We live in a digital world, so shoot, shoot, shoot!

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